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Tomorrow is our catering tasting. (No eating after midnight tonight.) We’re trying to get our ducks in a row ahead of time, thinking of questions to ask our coordinator and other things that will aid in planning.
Boring Questions
1. Are there any costs we might not be aware of that the venue doesn’t cover?
Heeding the warning of our recently married friends, we’re trying to avoid being walloped by last minute expenses. Mr. P is convinced we haven’t budgeted for napkins. (Of all things!)
2. Can we really do a sparkler send-off??!?
I have seen photographic evidence of sparklers at our venue, but our state is a “No fireworks. No sparklers. No fun. No how.” state.
Red on a map is never good (source)
3. For rehearsal and set-up, when is the earliest we can gain access? Also, are there any events before or after ours that would shorten our install/break-down time?
Hope hope hope we can get in early Friday to begin setting up.
4. Will we need extra lighting to supplement the existing interior lighting?
Sunset will be around 8:30, so we’ll only have 1.5 hours of true dark.
Food
1. What is the amount of our cake credit?
This will determine if we stick with our first choice (Hotel duPont) or scale back to bakery #2. Either way, I think a second cake tasting is in order!
2. For the dessert bar, what is typically served? Can we ask for specific desserts and/or supply them?
Given a choice, hand-piped canolis and pistachio macarons top our sweets list. Maybe I’ll have to add a little pain au chocolat now??
created by The Cupcake Company, photo from Leanne Stamatellos
3. Location of dessert bar - what does the set-up look like and can we provide containers/trays?
What I’m trying to suss out is how involved I can be without overstepping. Would love to be able to create a simple display like the above lovely.
Alcohol (finally the important questions!):
1. Can we see a list of wine brands/varietals at the standard and premium price points?
We are unapologetically selective about wine. And I want the opportunity to audit our wines. Just thinking about hosting a wedding wine tasting party has me excited!
(personal photo)
2. Can nicer bottles be set aside for the bridal party and wine VIPs?
Yes, we did just go there.
3. A pressing question from the groom: Can we get Svedka instead of Smirnoff/Stoli?
They’re the same level and per Mr. P, Svedka is superior. The man is picky about his vodkas. I think it’s sexy.
And if our coordinator isn’t ready to toss us out the door after all this, we’ll trek through the snow to measure the ceremony space and tent.
What did we overlook? Should we ask for a doggie bag for tomorrow’s leftovers?
I grew up in Virginia, and every year when we’d drive to Georgia to visit family for Christmas, I insisted on stopping in South Carolina on the way back … to pick up fireworks. That spot of green on the map in between all that yellow brings back memories.
OMG, I wrote out literally 3 pages of questions for our sit-down with our coordinator so I was certain everything was covered. One that most people don’t think about is liability insurance at your venue. This was one I happened to stumble upon on a discussion board about a year ago. We had our consultation with our venue and brought it up. At first, they said I would have to supply it but after a little negotiation, they’re taking care of it. Why you need it? I have no idea. But ask!
Is there a cake-cutting charge?
Are the tips for waitstaff included?
Who is responsible for packaging up our items (i.e., cake cutter, card box, toasting glasses, etc)?
Who will be our go-to person at the venue on the day of for questions or problems?
Good luck!!
I hope you aren’t relying on that map for accurate information about fireworks; it’s (really) wrong for at least one state (Pennsylvania).
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/psp/4451/fireworksfaq/537214
@Wehaf: Agreed. Growing up we were always told that fireworks can’t leave the ground.
These are great questions to keep in mind for all of us meeting with our caterer. I’d be interested to know how you make out with the sparkler issue, as I am a red-state resident who wants them at my festivities too!
Do NOT feel bad. Every time I go to our venue I have a ridiculous list of questions. Last time I made them into a word doc and loaded it onto my iPad then typed the answers in as she went through them. Annoying? Maybe. Efficient? Oh yes!
@eebgniddew: Thankfully, we have answers to all of those questions. These were the outstanding questions and oh-so-important (see: Svedka) questions. hahahah (No cake cutting fee, btw.)
@Wehaf: Just using it as a visual aid. For what it’s worth, it’s correct for Delaware.
@Crown: I know. I’m in a bit of suspense over the whole sparklers thing!
@Miss Lox: I keep a running list on my iPhone between our meetings. Gotta love technology keeping us organized! (Oh, our venue coordinator read this post in between courses at our tasting. She asked if I had any questions, knowing before she even asked what they’d be. She is too good!)
It’s smart to make up a list before you go. I usually just stammer a bunch and look confused when a vendor asks me if I have questions haha.
@Miss Biscuit: That’s my usual response to inquiries I was not expecting. As in, “You mean I’m supposed to have questions/answers now? I need to go somewhere quiet and figure out what just went down. I’ll get back to you in a few hours…”
I think Missouri needs to be purple. Fireworks encouraged at all times.
Yum, canolis! We also asked about the service/sales tax, as well as other items that incurred additional charges (bartender fees, cake cutting, etc.). The oddest question I was asked was how I wanted our napkins folded. Definitely something I have *not* given much thought to (and still haven’t, lol).
@afbacher: hahahahaha, love it!
@Miss Magic: I find myself craving wedding cake and wishing for doggie bags of it at least once a week.
@Miss Tartlet: Those are the questions that stump me! I feel like I ought to hand in my bride card for not knowing already.
Huh. What are novelty fireworks? Luckily Texas is one of those “Oh fireworks? You can buy them on the side of the road, buy 1 get 11 free!” states. 
@Miss Hyena: So jealous! We’re not even supposed to have the black snakes/glow worms here. (Last summer, we stopped to buy motor oil at a southern gas station and had to buy something else to meet the credit card minimum. There were fireworks IN the store. Blew my mind.)
Haha, well I’m pretty sure that while Ohio is just blue, I grew up in a red town… my father is an ophthalmologist, and he personally went round the neighbourhood with my mother getting people to sign petitions to ban fireworks in our community because he sees so many eye related injuries with them. Sadness! Sparkler send offs are gorgeous. I hope you can swing it! I know my mother/father would put a big mean foot down about that if I even suggested it….
Don’t feel too bad about reserving better wine for the bridal party and VIPs. You’ve got a right to drink the better stuff on your big day and people coming to the party aren’t pitching in for drinks so what the heck!
Great list of questions! I think that yes they might make the work for the coordinator a bit more challenging but if you chose a high level professional place they will welcome the questions and be very happy about answering them and making sure that you will feel good about your choice! (I hope my venue coordinator is as good as yours!)
Wow talk about a great list of questions. And I would have to say that the canolis question should be top on your list. 
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Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DE Age and Occupation: 29, Realtor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 34, Realtor Engagement Date: November 21, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2011 Venue: Greenville Country Club About Me: An ENFJ with an artistic streak who loves backgammon, sailing, graphic design, and sleeping in. Travel (near or far), good wine, and tasty food makes my heart sing. I'm a compulsive list-maker who lives to plan and organize. Mr. P and I have lived together for 4 years, all the while renovating our city townhome bit by bit. We're planning a whimsical, Anthropologie-inspired garden wedding in June 2011.
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